Yusuf Bakare
A former Chairperson of National Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Kwara Chapter, Hajia Binta Abubakar Mora has made a call for a new Nigeria Union of Journalists, kwara council.
Mora, who made this call during a campaing tour to the Correspondents, Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ in Ilorin reiterated the need for a deviation from the past with efforts to make NUJ one and united.
The Radio Queen at Hamony FM ,Radio Nigeria, Idofian who is an aspirant for the position of Vice Chairman of the Kwara Council, commended the outgoing executive of the NUJ but lamented that the executive could have done better if women were included in the cabinet.
She further promised to provide the missing link which a woman would fill up and make NUJ stronger if given the opportunity and mandate to serve in her chosen capacity.
Responding to her campaign promises, a former Chairman of NUJ, ALhaji Tunde Akanbi said that her competence is never in doubt adding that the place of women can never be overrated in the society.
Akanbi however urged other women in the council to rally round Haji Binta Mora to prove their numerical strength and not allow things turn out the like it did when a former Presidential aspirant, Sara Jubril contested and had only her vote in the primaries.
He said if only women could support women, their place in the society will be better secured and that will avail them the opportunity to fight and defend their rights wherever they are found.
Similarly, another stakeholder in the NUJ polity, Deacon Demola Akinyemi also lauded the courage of Hajia Binta Mora to come out in a contest so keenly contested adding that he is of the believe that her victory is fait acompli.
Akinyemi as senior reporter at Vanguard Newspapers advised the aspirant and her supporters to keep their promises and not let the men be disappointed for giving them the opportunit to serve.
He said that NUJ has come of age and that in every modern society, gender is no longer an issue adding that what a man can do , most times women do better, urging all the women to rally round their own and ensure that the victory is clinched on a platter of gold.
The former Chairman at the Correspondent chapel urged all stakeholders to put hands on deck to ensure that NUJ becomes a place of pride for all by supporting those whom he described as courageous and competent aspirants that had come forward to campaign adding that it is not easy combining work with the stress of going round on campaing to see support for service of the council.
In her contribution, the National Treasurer of NAWOJ, Hajia Fatima Rasheed, who was on her campaign train reiterated that it is high time women are given their right place in the scheme of things adding that two heads are always better than one.
She said that in todays world, women rise to unlimited heights in developed nations, even as Presidents adding woman are endowed with special attributes in managing affairs and causing balance when the tension in men seems high stressing that where a woman is not around when she should be on board, crises would be inevitable among the men folk.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman of the Correspondents Chapel, Alhaji AbdulHakeem Garba reiterated that though he has no such powers to compel any member to vote a particular candidate, he can boldly beat his chest that his members will do justice and vote for the right candidate in the interest of the council.
He also attested to the competence of Hajia Binta Mora whom he said had been on the NAWOJ seat as Chairperson and already knows the ropes and workings in NUJ, wishing her success in her endeavours.
